Friday, June 30, 2006

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Jeb Bush has used his recently revived nonprofit foundation to pay a former campaign finance director and two former campaign aides.Although Bush has said his Foundation for Florida's Future is not a way of keeping his political machine intact after he leaves office early next year, recent disclosures on the foundation's Web site show that it paid:

• Nearly $99,000 to Ann Herberger, Bush's campaign finance director during two campaign and a longtime political fund-raiser for his family.• Nearly $70,000 to Neil Newhouse of Washington-based GOP Public Opinion Strategies group for polling last October.• $48,000 for "management services" to a lobbying and public-affairs firm whose staff includes Mandy Clark and Mandy Fletcher. Both worked on Bush's reelection campaign and on his brother's presidential reelection campaign.• $23,500 for "legal services" from the Washington law and lobbying firm Patton Boggs.• $20,000 in February to GOP political strategist Adam Goodman's The Victory Group Inc.The foundation has spent about $320,000 of the $1.9 million it has raised since Bush revived it in the fall, according to its Web site. Those contributions have come from friends, former colleagues and campaign contributors, and even the prime minister of Haiti.Bush also has tapped three "Rangers" — fund-raisers who brought in at least $200,000 for President Bush's 2004 campaign — to sit on the foundation's board: Zach Zachariah, a Fort Lauderdale cardiologist; Tom Petway, a Jacksonville businessman; and Sergio Pino, a Miami developer.In Washington on Wednesday, Bush said the foundation's expenditures are within the law and that Herberger's salary comes from donations."It's all pretty transparent, complying with the new law," Bush said. "Ann Herberger gets money when she raises money. It's kind of how she makes a living."But when asked about the subject of the $70,000 poll, Bush said, "I'm not going to tell you."Bush had said he resurrected the foundation to campaign for a constitutional amendment to allow the state to pay for private- and religious-school tuition for children in failing schools, but lawmakers failed to pass a joint resolution that would have put such a question on the ballot in November.Although Bush has said he will not seek public office in 2008, political strategists say the foundation will keep him from fading out of sight."The first time Michael Jordan retired, I bet he didn't quit working out. I bet he didn't quit playing basketball. You never know when you want to play again. And you want to be in shape if you think, 'I want to play a few seasons,' " said GOP strategist Mac Stipanovich.

Davis remains tied with Crist, even though the GOP frontrunner hasbeen running television ads for four weeks in multiple media marketsin Florida.

Davis continues to lead Tom Gallagher, the other Republican candidatefor governor.

Davis continues to maintain what the Associated Press called "asubstantial" two-to-one lead over his Democratic primary opponent(32%-16%).

The poll conducted between June 20 and 26 surveyed 1,311 registeredvoters, including 528 Democrats and 520 Republicans. The broadersurvey had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 2.7 percentagepoints, while the smaller ones of each party was plus or minus 4.3percentage points.

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FloridaAttorney General Charlie Crist has opened a 49 - 21 percent lead amongRepublican voters over State Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, his opponentfor the Republican gubernatorial nomination, according to a QuinnipiacUniversity poll released today. Another 28 percent of Republicans are undecided.This compares to a 43 - 26 percent lead among Republicans May 24.

Crist also has inched ahead of U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, the leading Democrat in thegovernor's race, 41 - 39 percent. This compares to a 40 - 37 percent Davis leadin a May 24 poll by the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University.

"Television can make a difference in politics. Attorney General CharlieCrist's sizable war chest began showing its muscle this month. Although thedifferences in the trial heats over the past month are not large, they are goodnews for Crist," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the QuinnipiacUniversity poll.

"Moreover, while Crist was picking up steam, his primary opponent, CFO TomGallagher, was moving in the other direction."

"Davis' primary lead over Smith narrowed a bit, but both Democrats remainlargely unknown to the vast majority of Florida voters," said Brown.

Gov. Jeb Bush remains the most popular statewide elected leader in Florida, butopinion on the centerpiece of his education reform plan - requirement that theFCAT be passed for public school students to be promoted and allowed to graduateremains split.

Voters approve 57 - 34 percent of the job Gov. Bush is doing.

By a 48 - 44 percent margin, Florida voters favor retaining the FCATrequirement, with Republicans heavily in favor and Democrats opposed. When askedabout the FCAT in April, voters supported its current usage by a 47 - 45 percentmargin.

While voters support FCAT testing of students, they say 60 - 33 percent thatFCAT scores should not be used to decide how much money schools receive.

"The FCAT issue has become a dividing line in the race for Governor withthe Democratic candidates attacking, and the Republican contenders defending,Gov. Bush's education plan," Brown said.

President Bush's Approval

Florida voters disapprove 60 - 38 percent of the way President George W. Bush isdoing his job, compared to 60 - 36 percent May 24. They disapprove 59 - 36percent of the way President Bush is handling the war in Iraq and say 55 - 38percent that going to war in Iraq was the wrong thing to do.

The U.S. should remove all troops from Iraq, 31 percent of Florida voters say,with 24 percent who want to decrease the number of U.S. troops, 22 percent whowant to keep current troop levels, and 13 percent who want to increase thenumber of troops.

From June 20 - 26, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,311 Florida registeredvoters with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes520 Republicans, with a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points, and 528Democrats, with a margin of error of +/- 4.3 percentage points. The QuinnipiacUniversity Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public opinionsurveys in Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and thenation as a public service and for research. For additional data-www.quinnipiac.eduand quicklinks

1. Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job asGovernor?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Approve57%86%35%53%61%53%

Disapprove34956343335

DK/NA96913612

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Approve59%60%60%78%46%

Disapprove3130331844

DK/NA10107511

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way Jeb Bush is handling his job asGovernor?

Highest Lowest

Approve Approve

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 23Sep 23Aug 12

2006200620062006200520042004

Approve57555554536245

Disapprove34353635373044

DK/NA999119811

2. Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handling itsjob?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Approve44%65%31%37%45%43%

Disapprove401955454237

DK/NA161614181319

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Approve48%49%44%54%36%

Disapprove3435433047

DK/NA1916131617

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way the state legislature is handlingits job?

Highest Lowest

Approve Approve

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15Sep 23Jun 29

2006200620062006200520042004

Approve44404344415139

Disapprove40444036413442

DK/NA16161721181518

5. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling his job asPresident?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Approve38%76%9%30%41%35%

Disapprove602289655762

DK/NA322523

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Approve42%40%38%51%29%

Disapprove5658594567

DK/NA22344

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling hisjob as President?

10. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidateswere Jim Davis the Democrat and Charlie Crist the Republican for whom would youvote?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Davis 39%6%73%35%36%41%

Crist417912354537

SMONE ELSE(VOL)11-211

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)111111

DK/NA181313271620

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Davis41%32%38%19%47%

Crist4051395632

SMONE ELSE(VOL)111-1

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)--221

DK/NA1816182318

TREND: If the 2006 election for Governor were being held today and thecandidates were Jim Davis the Democrat and Charlie Crist the Republican, forwhom would you vote?

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15

20062006200620062005

Davis3940393640

Crist4137374039

SMONE ELSE12121

WLDN'T VOTE12211

DK/NA1819202219

11. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidateswere Jim Davis the Democrat and Tom Gallagher the Republican for whom would youvote?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Davis42%6%77%39%39%43%

Gallagher3575925 3932

SMONE ELSE(VOL)22-421

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)22-321

DK/NA201513291722

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Davis40%42%39%18%50%

Gallagher4132365628

SMONE ELSE(VOL)142-1

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)12231

DK/NA1720212319

TREND: If the 2006 election for Governor were being held today and thecandidates were Jim Davis the Democrat and Tom Gallagher the Republican, forwhom would you vote?

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15

20062006200620062005

Davis4240383641

Gallagher3537383738

SMONE ELSE21112

WLDN'T VOTE22111

DK/NA2020222518

12. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidateswere Rod Smith the Democrat and Charlie Crist the Republican for whom would youvote?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Smith35%4%70%30%33%38%

Crist428014354439

SMONE ELSE(VOL)1--211

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)221222

DK/NA201515302021

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Smith37%27%35%19%44%

Crist4253415931

SMONE ELSE(VOL)11--1

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)22221

DK/NA1916222023

TREND: If the 2006 election for Governor were being held today and thecandidates were Rod Smith the Democrat and Charlie Crist the Republican, forwhom would you vote?

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15

20062006200620062005

Smith3537373236

Crist4239394241

SMONE ELSE11122

WLDN'T VOTE22211

DK/NA2020212320

13. If the 2006 election for governor were being held today, and the candidateswere Rod Smith the Democrat and Tom Gallagher the Republican for whom would youvote?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Smith39%7%73%32%35%42%

Gallagher3673931 4231

SMONE ELSE(VOL)21-421

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)221432

DK/NA211717291923

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Smith37%34%40%15%48%

Gallagher4238355528

SMONE ELSE(VOL)23--1

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)-4272

DK/NA1921222322

TREND: If the 2006 election for Governor were being held today and thecandidates were Rod Smith the Democrat and Tom Gallagher the Republican, forwhom would you vote?

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15

20062006200620062005

Smith3935353436

Gallagher3639413841

SMONE ELSE21122

WLDN'T VOTE22222

DK/NA2123212519

24. In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going in Floridatoday -- Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, orvery dissatisfied?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Very satisfied13%25%4%8%15%10%

Smwht satisfied455440424545

Smwht dissatisfied261334302229

Very dissatisfied167 21191715

DK/NA11-111

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Very satisfied15%12%15%14%9%

Smwht satisfied5048475236

Smwht dissatisfied1925242033

Very dissatisfied1614131420

DK/NA-1111

TREND: In general, how satisfied are you with the way things are going inFlorida today? Are you very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhatdissatisfied, or very dissatisfied?

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22Nov 15Aug 31Jun 30

2006200620062006200520052005

Very satisfied13151415151514

Smwht satisfied45414543434243

Smwht dissatisfied26252426202527

Very dissatisfied16181514211715

DK/NA1122112

25. What do you think is the most important problem facing Florida today?

Tot

Education Total19%

Education general14

Teachers1

Funding education3

Education other1

Immigration10 %

Economy Total6%

Economy general1

Unemployment/jobs2

Minimum wage too low1

Cost of living2

Overcrowding/Over

population6%

Hurricane/Weather total5%

Hurricanes4

Prepared for weather1

Property Insurance5%

Crime Total5%

Crime/Violence general4

Drugs1

Open space/Urban sprawl/

Overdevelopment5%

Taxes Total3%

Taxes general1

Property tax2

Environment/Pollution3%

Energy Total2%

Energy costs general1

Gas prices1

Healthcare/Costs/

Ins/HMO's2%

Mass Transit Total2%

Highway traffic/

congestion1

Poor conditions

roads/highways1

Politicians Total2%

Political corruption1

Governor/State

leadership1

Criminal justice system1

Housing Costs/

Availability1

Children's issues1

Senior issues1

Drought/Water problems1

War (Iraq)1

Other6

DK/NA5

26. For public school students to be promoted from third to fourth grade and tograduate high school, they must pass the FCAT. Some candidates for governor wantto eliminate these requirements. Do you support the present FCAT requirement ordo you want to eliminate it?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Support requirement48%63%37%43%50%46%

Eliminate it442952503947

DK/NA98107107

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Support requirement48%45%47%60%47%

Eliminate it4247443145

DK/NA98998

TREND: For public school students to be promoted from third to fourth grade andto graduate high school, they must pass the FCAT. Some candidates for governorwant to eliminate those requirements. Do you support the present FCATrequirement or do you want to eliminate it?

Jun 29Apr 19

20062006

Support requirement4847%

Eliminate it4445

DK/NA98

27. If a candidate for governor wants to eliminate the requirement that studentspass the FCAT test to be promoted from the third grade and graduate from highschool, would you be more likely to vote for that candidate, less likely, orwouldn't it make a difference?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

More likely26%19%31%27%23%29%

Less likely344031313930

No difference333431353334

DK/NA777768

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

More likely29%26%25%20%27%

Less likely3329373935

No difference3240303531

DK/NA65867

TREND: If a candidate for governor wants to eliminate the requirement thatstudents pass the FCAT test to be promoted from the third grade and graduatefrom high school, would you be more likely to vote for that candidate, lesslikely, or wouldn't it make a difference?

Jun 29Apr 19

20062006

More likely2627%

Less likely3429

No difference3335

DK/NA78

28. Public schools in Florida are graded based on the scores their studentsachieve on the FCAT. The grade that a school gets affects how much money theschool gets. Do you think the system of grading schools based on the FCAT shouldbe continued or not?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Yes33%51%25%23%34%32%

No604167705861

DK/NA877787

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Yes36%29%32%33%34%

No5963615359

DK/NA687137

TREND: Public schools in Florida are graded based on the scores their studentsachieve on the FCAT. The grade that a school gets affects how much money theschool gets. Do you think the system of grading schools based on the FCAT shouldbe continued or not?

Jun 29Apr 19

20062006

Yes3331%

No6063

DK/NA87

33. Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling thesituation with Iraq?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Approve36%75%8%27%41%31%

Disapprove592286675463

DK/NA536655

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Approve39%37%36%54%29%

Disapprove5555604167

DK/NA67454

TREND: Do you approve or disapprove of the way George W. Bush is handling thesituation with Iraq?

Jun 29May 24Apr 20Feb 24Nov 16Aug 31

200620062006200620052005

Approve363634413139

Disapprove596063546455

DK/NA544556

34. Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the UnitedStates to do or the wrong thing?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

Right thing38%74%11%34%44%33%

Wrong thing551982625060

DK/NA667467

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

Right thing43%39%39%59%29%

Wrong thing4855563964

DK/NA87527

TREND: Do you think going to war with Iraq was the right thing for the UnitedStates to do or the wrong thing?

Jun 29May 24Apr 20Feb 24Aug 31Oct 28Oct 21

2006200620062006200520042004

Right thing38373642414848

Wrong thing55585851534445

DK/NA6566687

35. From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what shouldthe United States do? Should the U.S. -- A) increase the number of U.S. troopsin Iraq, B) keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, C)decrease the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or D) remove all its troops fromIraq?

TotRepDemIndMenWom

A) Increase troops13%20%6%15%16%11%

B) Keep same amount223712192718

C) Decrease troops242325272226

D) Remove all troops311050292636

DK/NA910710910

North/

PnHndBayCntrlSthWSthE

A) Increase troops17%14%14%15%9%

B) Keep same amount2323252818

C) Decrease troops2024242327

D) Remove all troops3028301738

DK/NA9116179

TREND: From what you have seen or heard about the situation in Iraq, what shouldthe United States do? Should the U.S. -- A)increase the number of U.S. troops inIraq, B)keep the same number of U.S. troops in Iraq as there are now, C)decreasethe number of U.S. troops in Iraq, or D)remove all its troops from Iraq?

Jun 29May 24Apr 20

200620062006

Increase troops131412

Keep same amount222122

Decrease troops242624

Remove all troops313135

DK/NA988

36. (If registered republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for Governor werebeing held today and the candidates were Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagher forwhom would you vote?

REGISTERED REPUBLICANS

TotMenWom

Crist49%50%48%

Gallagher212121

SMONE ELSE(VOL)111

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)111

DK/NA282730

TREND: (If registered Republican) If the 2006 Republican primary for Governorwere being held today and the candidates were Charlie Crist and Tom Gallagherfor whom would you vote?

REGISTERED REPUBLICANS........

Jun 29May 24Apr 19Feb 22

2006200620062006

Crist49433440

Gallagher21263031

SMONE ELSE11-2

WLDN'T VOTE1231

DK/NA28283327

38. (If registered democrat) If the 2006 Democratic primary for governor werebeing held today and the candidates were Jim Davis and Rod Smith for whom wouldyou vote?

REGISTERED DEMOCRATS

TotMenWom

Davis32%36%29%

Smith161417

SMONE ELSE(VOL)112

WLDN'T VOTE(VOL)222

DK/NA494750

TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2006 Democratic primary for governor werebeing held today and the candidates were Jim Davis and Rod Smith, for whom wouldyou vote?